GROUNDWATER RISKS AND INSTITUTIONAL ......GROUNDWATER RISKS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES, KWALE...
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GROUNDWATER RISKS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES, KWALE COUNTY, KENYA 2. WHY KWALE? The study area characterises the prospects and limits for new and competing groundwater users. The Kwale Mineral Sands Pro- ject has a peak groundwater abstraction of 5,400m 3 per day from a spatially-distributed wellfield which acts as a buffer to sur- face water storage deficits in drought events. The Kwale coastal aquifer system will also be required to irrigate 5,000ha of sug- arcane managed by KISCOL with an average daily demand of 70,000m 3 ; part of which will be met from a projected 26-52 bore- holes. Other groundwater users include a thriving tourism industry, a municipality serving a large portion of Kwale County and thousands of handpump water users. Therefore Kwale provides an opportunity to study, model and test mechanisms for groundwater governance, resource management and the subsequent impact of these on community health and wellbeing at a point in time when large scale commercial users are establishing their operations. Inside the study area there is large scale commercial irrigated agriculture (Zone 1 and 3), mining (Zone 2) and tourism; Zone 4 is control; all these provide pathways out of poverty but create unprecedented demands on complex and poorly understood groundwater systems. The commercial irrigation is undertaken by the Kwale International Sugar Company (KISCOL) while the mining is carried by Base Titanium’s Kwale Mineral Sands Project, Kenya’s largest mine. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Programme wishes to acknowledge the contribution of the following funding institutions and partners: Natural Envi- ronment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Department for International Develop- ment (DFID), Oxford University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi, Rural Focus Ltd, Base Titanium Ltd, KISCOL, Kwale County, Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA Kenya), Korea Interna- tional Cooperation Agency, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and Kenya Meteorological Department. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Apr 12 Jul 12 Oct 12 Dec 12 Apr 13 Jul 13 Oct 13 Jan 14 Apr 14 Jul 14 Shimba Hills rainfall (mm/d) Water level elevation (mamsl) Shimba rain BH1PzS BH3PzS BH5PzS BH8PzS BH3PzI BH6PzS BH7PzS SURFACE WATER-RIVER MUKURUMUDZI AT SHIMBA HILLS ONE OF KISCOL BOREHOLES WITHIN SUGARCANE PLANTATIONS Water levels in the shallow aquifer system showing the rapid recharge response to rainfall (data provided courtesy of Base Titanium) NEXT PHASES OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME GROUNDWATER RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL GROUNDWATER MODEL AND MAPS REPORT ON GROUNDWATER POVERTY JOURNAL PAPER DISSEMINATION AND IMPACT PATHWAYS CAN THE AQUIFER PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER? The study area groundwaters are characterised by a number of factors: Naturally occurring low pH groundwater — potentially inducing the mobilisation of metals (e.g. Fe, Al) In coastal areas, saline intrusion is significantly affecting groundwater quality — the salinity of water at certain pumps is already deemed unacceptable for drinking by some communities Nitrate pollution — despite nitrate concentrations being generally low (<15mg/l NO 3 ) a number of samples in distinct areas show high levels (>50mg/l NO 3 ), which may represent point-source pollution events. 4.3 Groundwater Governance Through research on institutional transformations in the Kenyan water sector, the pro- ject team has strengthened its relationships and collaboration with government agen- cies at national, county and local levels (Water Resources Management Authority, Wa- ter Services Regulatory Board, Coast Water Services Board, County Government, Water Resources User Associations). The project team has established strong collaboration with the two major water ab- stractors in the study area – Base Titanium Ltd., Kenya’s largest mine (project partner), and Kwale International Sugar Company Ltd. (MoU). Focus group discussions were conducted with all four Water Resources User Associa- tions (WRUAs) in Kwale County that are critical in groundwater governance and would play a prominent role in the proposed development of a Groundwater Risk Manage- ment Tool. The key challenges they identified were water scarcity, pollution and quality. 4.2 Groundwater Poverty 3,400 household survey A multi-dimensional welfare index with 27 indicators constructed FOCUS GROUP WITH WRUA Jacob Mutua 1 , Mike Thomas 1 , Rob Hope 2 Contacts: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 1 RURAL FOCUS LTD ; 2 UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD WEEKLY FIELD CHEMISTRY MONITORING OPEN SHALLOW WELL USED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES WEEKLY WATER LEVEL MONITORING 4. UPGro WORK PACKAGES 4.1 Hydrogeology Conceptual model developed as baseline Network of water level monitoring Weekly field chemistry monitoring at 36 points Dry and wet season water chemistry analyses 3. OBJECTIVES Prepare a socio-ecological diagnostic of the study area: Bibliography of geological, hydrological, social and institutional research and policy Develop a conceptual hydrogeological model of a strategic sub-location of the study site Test the conceptual model using empirical data Administer a stratified random sample of shallow aquifer characteristics and behaviour 1. RATIONALE Improved understanding of groundwater risks and institutional responses against competing growth and development goals is central to accelerating and sustaining Africa’s development. Irrigated agriculture, mining and tourism all provide pathways out of poverty but create unprecedented demands on com- plex and poorly understood groundwater systems. Kwale County on the south east coast of Kenya captures the complex reality of Africa’s groundwater science and policy chal- lenges at a unique historical moment prior to a generation of social, environmental and economic change. A HANDPUMP USED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Transcript of GROUNDWATER RISKS AND INSTITUTIONAL ......GROUNDWATER RISKS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES, KWALE...
GROUNDWATER RISKS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES, KWALE COUNTY, KENYA
2. WHY KWALE? The study area characterises the prospects and limits for new and competing groundwater users. The Kwale Mineral Sands Pro-
ject has a peak groundwater abstraction of 5,400m3 per day from a spatially-distributed wellfield which acts as a buffer to sur-
face water storage deficits in drought events. The Kwale coastal aquifer system will also be required to irrigate 5,000ha of sug-
arcane managed by KISCOL with an average daily demand of 70,000m3; part of which will be met from a projected 26-52 bore-
holes. Other groundwater users include a thriving tourism industry, a municipality serving a large portion of Kwale County and
thousands of handpump water users. Therefore Kwale provides an opportunity to study, model and test mechanisms for
groundwater governance, resource management and the subsequent impact of these on community health and wellbeing at a
point in time when large scale commercial users are establishing their operations.
Inside the study area there is large scale commercial irrigated agriculture (Zone 1 and 3), mining (Zone 2) and tourism; Zone 4 is
control; all these provide pathways out of poverty but create unprecedented demands on complex and poorly understood
groundwater systems. The commercial irrigation is undertaken by the Kwale International Sugar Company (KISCOL) while the
mining is carried by Base Titanium’s Kwale Mineral Sands Project, Kenya’s largest mine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Programme wishes to acknowledge the contribution of the following funding institutions and partners: Natural Envi-
ronment Research Council (NERC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Department for International Develop-
ment (DFID), Oxford University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Nairobi, Rural Focus
Ltd, Base Titanium Ltd, KISCOL, Kwale County, Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA Kenya), Korea Interna-
tional Cooperation Agency, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and Kenya Meteorological Department.
0
20
40
60
80
100
12016
18
20
22
24
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Apr 12 Jul 12 Oct 12 Dec 12 Apr 13 Jul 13 Oct 13 Jan 14 Apr 14 Jul 14
Shim
ba
Hills ra
infa
ll (mm
/d)W
ate
r le
vel e
leva
tio
n (
ma
msl
)
Shimba rain BH1PzS
BH3PzS BH5PzS
BH8PzS BH3PzI
BH6PzS BH7PzS
SURFACE WATER-RIVER MUKURUMUDZI AT SHIMBA HILLS
ONE OF KISCOL BOREHOLES WITHIN SUGARCANE PLANTATIONS
Water levels in the shallow aquifer system showing the rapid recharge response to rainfall (data provided courtesy of Base Titanium)
NEXT PHASES OF THE RESEARCH
PROGRAMME GROUNDWATER RISK MANAGEMENT TOOL
GROUNDWATER MODEL AND MAPS
REPORT ON GROUNDWATER POVERTY
JOURNAL PAPER
DISSEMINATION AND IMPACT PATHWAYS
CAN THE AQUIFER PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING
WATER? The study area groundwaters are characterised by a number of factors:
Naturally occurring low pH groundwater — potentially inducing the mobilisation of
metals (e.g. Fe, Al)
In coastal areas, saline intrusion is significantly affecting groundwater quality — the
salinity of water at certain pumps is already deemed unacceptable for drinking by
some communities
Nitrate pollution — despite nitrate concentrations being generally low (<15mg/l
NO3) a number of samples in distinct areas show high levels (>50mg/l NO3), which
may represent point-source pollution events.
4.3 Groundwater Governance Through research on institutional transformations in the Kenyan water sector, the pro-
ject team has strengthened its relationships and collaboration with government agen-
cies at national, county and local levels (Water Resources Management Authority, Wa-
ter Services Regulatory Board, Coast Water Services Board, County Government, Water
Resources User Associations).
The project team has established strong collaboration with the two major water ab-
stractors in the study area – Base Titanium Ltd., Kenya’s largest mine (project partner),
and Kwale International Sugar Company Ltd. (MoU).
Focus group discussions were conducted with all four Water Resources User Associa-
tions (WRUAs) in Kwale County that are critical in groundwater governance and would
play a prominent role in the proposed development of a Groundwater Risk Manage-
ment Tool.
The key challenges they identified were water scarcity, pollution and quality.
4.2 Groundwater Poverty 3,400 household survey
A multi-dimensional welfare index with 27 indicators constructed
FOCUS GROUP WITH WRUA
Jacob Mutua1, Mike Thomas1, Rob Hope2 Contacts: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
1RURAL FOCUS LTD ; 2UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
WEEKLY FIELD CHEMISTRY MONITORING
OPEN SHALLOW WELL USED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES
WEEKLY WATER LEVEL MONITORING 4. UPGro WORK PACKAGES
4.1 Hydrogeology Conceptual model developed as baseline
Network of water level monitoring
Weekly field chemistry monitoring at 36 points
Dry and wet season water chemistry analyses
3. OBJECTIVES Prepare a socio-ecological diagnostic of the study area:
Bibliography of geological, hydrological, social and institutional research and policy
Develop a conceptual hydrogeological model of a strategic sub-location of the study site
Test the conceptual model using empirical data
Administer a stratified random sample of shallow aquifer characteristics and behaviour
1. RATIONALE Improved understanding of groundwater risks and institutional responses against competing growth and development goals
is central to accelerating and sustaining Africa’s development.
Irrigated agriculture, mining and tourism all provide pathways out of poverty but create unprecedented demands on com-
plex and poorly understood groundwater systems.
Kwale County on the south east coast of Kenya captures the complex reality of Africa’s groundwater science and policy chal-
lenges at a unique historical moment prior to a generation of social, environmental and economic change.
A HANDPUMP USED BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES
